Combination seat and coffee table or the like



A. S. ODELL April 25, 1961 COMBINATION SEAT AND COFFEE TABLE OR THE LIKE Filed July 3, 1959 R. m 4 m N M E I H 6 HER,

M 2 H 14H ATTOPMFY United States Patent 9 COMBINATION SEAT AND COFFEE TABLE OR THE LIKE Albert S. Odell, 1712 NW. 8th, Oklahoma City, Okla.,

assiguor of forty-nine percent to Doyle Adams, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Filed July 3, 1959, Ser. No. 824,873

4 Claims. (Cl. 155-43) This invention relates generally to improvements in seating devices, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an improved combination settee and coffee table for use in apartments and the like.

In many present day apartments there is insuflicient room for an adequate number of separate furniture pieces forming seats and tables, such as coffee tables. As a result, several designs of combination seats and tables have been devised which will alternately form a seat and a table. In all previous designs, however, the device forms an uncomfortable seat or settee when opened-up, and such devices are normally provided with protruding levers or other implements when the furniture piece is converted :into a table to provide an unattractive appearance.

The present invention contemplates a novel combination seat and coffee table or the like, wherein the seating member of the device is automatically adjusted when the device is opened and closed to form a comfortable seat "in the open position of the device. Also, all of the operating levers and linkages of the present combination device are enclosed in a housing and are completely obscured from view when the combination device is folded into a closed position to form a table.

The present invention may be broadly defined as a combination seat and coffee table or the like, comprising a rectangularly-shaped housing having a bottom and open along its top, said housing also having a forward wall and a rear wall, a cover pivotally secured to the rear wall of the housing for manual pivoting movement upwardly and downwardly to alternately form a backrest and the top of a colfee table or the like, a pair of arm rests, each of said arm rests having a forward end and a rear end and being pivotally connected at its rear end to one end portion of the cover to extend forwardly over the housing inwardly of the respective end of the housing, a seating member in the housing having a forward edge and a rear edge and being pivotally secured at its rear edge to the housing, said seating member having a vertical thickness less than the height of the forward wall of the housing, and means connecting the forward end of each arm rest to the seating member and to the housing for raising the forward edge of the seating member above the forward wall of the housing when the cover is raised and for lowering the forward edge of the seating member below the top of the forward wall of the housing when the cover is lowered.

An important-object of this invention is to provide a combination seat and coffee table or the like which provides a comfortable seat and, alternately, an attractive table.

Another object of this invention is to provide a combination seat and cofiee table or the like which provides a seat when the device is opened and provides a table when the device is closed, and wherein the seating member of the device is automatically raised to a comfortable seating position when the device is open.

A further object of this invention is to provide a com- ICC 2 bination seat and coffee table or the like wherein all of the operating levers and linkages are obscured from view when the device is folded to form a table.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel mechanism for automatically raising and lowering the forward portion of the seating member'in acombination seat and coffee table or the like.

A still further object of this invention is to-provide a combination seat and coffee table or the like which is simply constructed, which may be economically manufactured, and which will have a long service life.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a combination settee and coffee table constructed in accordance with this invention and illustrating the device in an open position forming a settee.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through one end portion of the housing of the device shown in Fig. 1', illustrating the position of the levers and seating member when the device is Opened to form a settee.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the device a closed position forming a coifee table.

Figure 4 is a typical detailed front elevational view of the roller and associated mechanism connected to the for ward edge portion of each end of the seating member.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detailed view of a preferred device for pivotally supporting the rear edge portionof the seating member in the supporting housing.

Although the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in the drawings and described in detail herein is in the form of a combination settee and coffee table, the present invention has other applications, such as in the folding seats of station wagons, boats and trailers, and the present invention should not be limited to combination settee and coifee tables.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and particularly Fig. 1, reference character 10 generally designates a com bination settee and coffee table constructed in accordance with this invention which comprises a generally rectangularly-shaped housing 12 supported by suitable legs 14 at each corner thereof. The bottom 16 of the housing 12 is stationary and is suitably secured (not shown) on the legs 14. The forward and rear walls 18 and 20 (see also Fig.2), and the end walls 22 are suitably secured along the respective edges of the bottom 16 to extend vertically upward from the bottom 16. It will also be observed that I prefer to form the various portions of the housing 12 out of wood to provide an attractive appearance for the device, although any materials of construction may be used.' a 7 One end portion of the housing 12 may be provided with a fixed top 24 to provide a device in the nature of an end table or lamp table adjacent to the portion 26 forming the combination settee and colfee table, if desired.

A suitable rectangularly-shaped and flat cover 28 is pivotally secured to the rear wall 20 of the housing 12 adjacent the stationary top 24 to form a back rest when in a raised position as shown in Fig. 1, and to alternately form the top of a coffee table when in a closed position as shown in Fig. 3. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the cover 28 is pivotally secured to the upper end portion of the housing rear wall 20 by suitable hinges 30 (only one of which is shown). It will also be observed in Figs. 2 and 3 that the rear wall 20 of the housing 12 is shorter than the forward wall 18 and end walls 22to provide sufficient clearance for the hinges 30. It may further-be noted in Fig. 1 that suitable upholstering 32 is preferably 'to provide a comfortable back rest when the cover is in the open position. Also, of course, the cover 28 is of a: size to completely cover the open top of the housing 12, when in a closed position adjacent to the stationary to 24.

1 suitable seating member 34, is positioned in the housing 12 in the portion of the housing covered by the pivotal cover 28, and may be of any desired internal construction to form a comfortable seating member. The rear edge portion 36 of the seating member 34 is pivotally secured to the bottom 16 of the housing 12'by suitable brackets 38 and pins 40 as illustrated in detail in Fig. 5. One of the L-shaped brackets 38 is secured to the bottom 16 of the housing 12 adjacent each end of the seating member 34, and a pin 40 extends from the respective endof the seating member 34 through a complementary aperture (not shown) in the respective bracket 38, such that the rear edge portion of the seating member 34 will be pivotally supported in the housing 12.

, The vertical thickness of the seating member 34 is less than the depth of the housing 12, and particularly less than the height of the forward wall 18 of the housing 12, such that the seating member 34 may be completely enclosed in the housing 12 when the device is closed to form a coffeetable. The foward edge portion 42 of the seating member 34 is alternately raised and lowered by a novel mechanism generally designated by reference character 44 when the cover 28 is opened and closed.

The mechanism 44 comprises a lever 46 at each end of the settee portion of the device pivotally secured at its rear end 48 by a suitable bracket Stl to the cover 28. Each lever 46 is preferably bent upwardly adjacent its rear end portion 48 to extend downwardly and then forwardly from the respective bracket 50. It may also be noted that each lever 46 is positioned inwardly of the respective end of the housing 12,..such that the lever 46 will be positioned within the housing 12 out of view when the cover 28 is lowered. A suitable arm rest 52 is secured on the top of each lever 46 and is provided with suitable upholsteringto form a comfortable arm rest at each end of the cover 28.

The forward end portion of each lever 46 is pivotally connected by a link 54 to the upper end portion of a second lever 56. Each lever 56 extends generally downward from the respective lever 46 and is pivotally connected by a bracket 58 to the bottom wall 16 of the housing 12. It may also be noted that the extreme forward end 60 of each lever 46 is formed at an angle to contact the upper end portion of the respective lever 56 when the cover 28 is raised to an open position as 'shown in Fig. 2 to limit the opening movement of the cover 28.

A third lever 62 is pivotally secured to an intermediate portion of each lever 56 and extends forwardly in the housing 12 adjacent the respective end of the seating member 34. The forward end 64 of each lever 62 is pivotally secured to the upper ends of a pair of arms 66,

and a pin 68 (see Fig. 4) extends through each pair of arms 66 into connection with the respective end of the seating member 34, such that forward and rearward movement of the levers 62 pivots the arms 66 in a vertical plane. A suitable roller 70 is rotatably secured between the lower ends of the arms 66 at each end of the seating member 34 and each roller 70 is positioned to ride on "a track 72 suitably secured to the bottom wall 16 of the housing 12.

The operation of the device is most clearly illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. When the cover 28 is opened as shown in Fig. 2, the arms 66 at each end of the seating member 64 are positioned vertically to support the forward edge portion 42 of the seating member 34 above the top, of the forward wall 18 of the housing 12. Thus,

the legs. of a person sitting on the seating member 34 willnot. engage theupperedge. of the. wall 18, such that a person may sit comfortably on the seating member 34. It may also be noted that when the arms 66 are extended vertically, the arms 66 will have a minimum tendency to pivot about the pins 68 and the arms 66 Will adequately support the forward edge portion 42 of the seating member 34 in thedesi-red elevated position.

When it is desired to convert the device into a coffee table, the cover 28 is" merely pivoted forwardly and downwardly onto the upper edges of the wall members 13- and 22 ofthe. housing 12. As the cover 28 is pivoted forwardly and downwardly, each lever 46 is moved forwardly to pivot the respective lever '56 in a clockwise direction (as shown in Fig. 2), which in turn moves the respective lever 62 forwardly and pivots the arms 66 in a clockwise direction. As the arms 66 are pivoted clockwise, the respective roller 70 moves rearwardly on the respective track 72 to lower the forward edge portion of the seating member 34 to a position as shown in Fig. 3 where the seating member 34 is completely enclosed by the housing 12. Thus, the seating member 34 is automatically pivoted downwardly into the housing 12 when the cover 28- is closed over the top of the housing 12.

Upon opening the cover 28, the movements of the levers 46, 56 and 62 and the arms 66 are the reverse of those just described, such that the rollers 70 are moved forwardly on the respective tracks 72 to raise the forward portion 42 of the seating member 34. When the arms 66 are extended vertically as shown in Fig. 2, the upper end portion of each lever 56 contacts the forward tapered end 69 of the respective lever 46 to prevent further rearward movement of the various levers, such that the arms 66 will remain vertical and efiectively support the forward portion 42 of the seating member 34 as previously indicated. From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel combination settee and coffee table which is simple in construction, may be economically manufactured and will have a long service life. The forward edge portion of the seating member is automatically raised when the cover of the device is opened to provide a comfortable seating member, and the forward portion of the seating member will be held in this elevated position as long as the cover of the device is open to form a settee. All of the operating levers and linkages are completely enclosed by the housing when the device is closed to form a coffee table, to provide an attractive appearance.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of parts or elements as heretofore set forth in the specification and shown in the drawings, it being understood that changes may be made in the precise embodiment disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A combination seat and table, comprising a rectangularly-shaped housing having a bottom and open along its top, said housing also having a forward wall and a rear wall, a cover pivotally secured to the rear wall of the housing for manual pivoting movement upwardly and downwardly toalternately form a back rest and the top of a table, a pair of arm rests, each of said arm rests having a forward end and a rear end and being pivotally connected at its rear end to one end of the cover to extend forwardly over the housing inwardly of the respective end of the housing, a seating member in the housing having a forward edge and a rear edge and being pivotally secured at its rear edge to the housing, said seating member having a vertical thickness less than the height of the forward wall of the housing, and means connecting the forward end of each arm rest to the seating member and to the housing for raising the forward edge of the seating member above the forward wall of the housing when the cover is raised and for lowering the forward edge of the seating member below the top of the forward wall of the housing when the cover is lowered.

2. A combination seat and table as defined in claim 1 wherein said means includes an arm pivotally secured to each end of the seating member at the forward edge portion of the seating member, a roller on the lower end of each of said arms, and a track in the housing for each of the rollers.

3. A combination seat and table as defined in claim 2 wherein said means also includes a system of levers pivotally connected to said arm rests, the housing and said arms for pivoting said arms upon opening and closing the cover, at least two of said levers being arranged to contact one another and stop the opening movement of the cover when said arms are positioned vertically,

4. A combination seat and table, comprising a rectangularly-shaped housing having a forward end and a rear end and open at its top, a cover pivotally secured to the rear end of the housing for manual opening and closing movements over the housing, a seating member in the housing having a vertical thickness less than the depth of the housing and having a forward edge and a rear edge, hinge means pivotally securing the rear edge of the seating member to the housing, a first lever pivotally secured to each end portion of the cover and extending forwardly with respect to the housing, a second lever pivotally secured in each end of the housing adjacent the respective first lever and extended upwardly adjacent the respective end of the seating member, a link pivotally connecting the upper end portion of each second lever to the forward end portion of the respective first lever for contact between said levers when the cover is opened a predetermined degree to limit the opening movement of the cover, an arm pivotally secured at an intermediate portion thereof to each end of the seating member adjacent the forward edge of the seating member, a roller on the lower end of each of said arms, a track secured in the housing for each of said rollers, and a third lever pivotally connecting the upper end of each of said arms to an intermediate portion of the respective second lever for pivoting said arms upon movement of the cover, each of said third levers being of a length to position the respective arm vertically when said first and second levers are in contact.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 484,136 Brown Oct. 11, 1892 841,135 Finch Jan. 15, 1907 901,581 Austin Oct. 20, 1908 1,090,752 Quackenbush Mar. 17, 1914 1,850,487 Young Mar. 22, 1932 2,143,218 Thurner Jan. 10, 1939 2,583,410 Burnett Jan, 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 730,480 Great Britain May 25, 1955 

